The ancestors of the Kaskell family come from the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. The family name comes from an ancient Norse warrior name Askell, which means cauldron of the Gods and denoted son of Asgaill.

Early Origins of the Kaskell family

The surname Kaskell was first found in living on the Islands of Skye and of Lewis (Scottish Gaelic: Leòdhas), where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. On Skye, ancestors of the Kaskell Clan occupied the district of "Rubha an Dunain, " where the ruins of the family residence may seen to this day.

Early History of the Kaskell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kaskell research.Another 208 words (15 lines of text) covering the year 1795 is included under the topic Early Kaskell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kaskell Spelling Variations

Historical recordings of the name Kaskell include many spelling variations. They are the result of repeated translations of the name from Gaelic to English and inconsistencies in spelling rules. They include MacAskill, MacAskill, Gaskell, Gaskill, MacGaskill, MacKaskil, MacKaskill and many more.

Early Notables of the Kaskell family (pre 1700)

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kaskell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kaskell family to the New World and Oceana

Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Kaskell or a variant listed above: Kenneth MacAskill, who arrived in North Carolina in 1750.

The Kaskell Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.